25 Internet
Heather McLaughlin
25.1 Introduction
Keywords
- Computer System– the most simple form of a functioning computer, needing specific hardware and software to properly run
- World Wide Web – a way of connecting and sending information through the Internet, commonly known as www. and seen at the beginning of a link
- Internet– a network of computers and stored information that is shared and communicated with around the world
- Third world country– an undeveloped country relative the the United States and others that are less economically and politically cultivated.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:
- Understand the original uses and first advancements of the Internet
- List uses for the Internet and how it can be both a negative and positive technology based on the user
- Describe how the Internet has improved communication and future possibilities for computer systems
Most of us are using the Internet every day for various aspects of our lives, but do we really know what it is? The Internet is a network of computers connected together to unite the digital world. The adaptation of Internet communication over time can be attributed to the origins of Internet invention, the technological advancements made, and the societal changes over the last decades. The Internet has changed the way our world communicates, advancing the technological age and society’s interactions. The Internet was arguably the most important invention of its time and continues to be used by billions of people every day. This network transformed throughout its building process into the tool that we use in every aspect of our lives and allows for a faster pace of communication.
25.2 What is the Internet
Key Takeaway
The Internet is a computer systems network that links all other networks together, sharing information across the world. In its current form, the Internet is used for things like news, blogs, scientific studies, articles, social networking, and much more. The access to information we have in this day and age is significantly better than it has ever been before. The hardware and software connecting the Internet on computers around the world have modernized our society. Mobile forms of communication and internet usage are the most popular in our current age which is made possible by the satellites, bandwidth, and advanced computer systems that make our network available wherever we go.
“This work” is in the Public Domain, CC0.
The World Wide Web, commonly known as www., was created to organize the information on the Internet and was a big part of the commercialization done to make the network more user-friendly. This made it possible to search for a site or topic and relevant results be given back to you. The Internet digitized everything that used to be on paper or in person. Ordering everything online, from food to concert tickets, is a new normal especially for younger generations who have only had the experience of th